Today@Sam Article

Presenting the 2025 Staff Excellence Award Recipients

Aug. 20, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins

Four Sam Houston State University employees who have demonstrated excellence in service, proven commitment, commendable performance and a high level of motivation have been selected as recipients of the 2025 Staff Excellence Award. They are Christene Chavez, director of talent acquisition and compensation in People and Procurement Operations; Jamilyn White, director of faculty records and reporting in the Office of the Provost; Tamara Draper, assistant to the chair in the Department of Sociology and Tingting Yao, piano accompanist in the School of Music.

Staff members are selected based on nominations by their peers, supervisors and members of the SHSU faculty. In addition to an award of recognition, each recipient will be awarded a $2,000 bonus.

Each year, the university invites the Bearkat community to nominate staff members who have consistently demonstrated excellence. The nomination period begins in February and ends in April.

Christene Chavez 

How would you describe your own job? 

I oversee the university’s hiring and compensation practices. My team works closely with departments to create, update and fill positions that align with their needs. We also support applicants in navigating opportunities at SHSU. Our focus is on making sure our processes are clear, fair and aligned with the university’s goals.

What do you love about your job? 

I value the direct impact of my work. Whether it’s guiding my team to help someone secure the right position, partnering with departments to meet their hiring and staffing needs, or ensuring our practices remain consistent and equitable. Each day brings new challenges and the opportunity to develop my team’s strengths, support individual success and advance the university’s broader mission.

What do you love about SHSU? 

What I appreciate most about SHSU is its strong sense of community. As an alum, it’s especially meaningful to give back to a place that has played such a significant role in my own life. SHSU is a community where people can feel valued and supported by one another, making it not only a great place to work but also a place to grow and thrive.

Comments supporting her nomination include: 

"Christene has a unique talent for simplifying complex issues and implementing practical, forward-thinking solutions. Her ability to balance compliance, compassion and institutional priorities make her an invaluable resource and a trusted leader across the university." 

"She is not afraid to challenge the status quo and has introduced bold, forward-thinking initiatives that enhance efficiency, transparency and equity. Her creative approach to problem-solving has positioned SHSU as a more agile and competitive employer." 

Jamilyn White 

How would you describe your own job? 

I lead the faculty records and reporting team in the Provost’s Office, where we support all things related to faculty - from onboarding and contracts to evaluations, reporting and retirement. I also manage the Watermark Faculty Success system, which helps track faculty activities and performance evaluations.

What do you love about your job? 

At the heart of my work is a commitment to helping people. Whether it’s guiding a department through a process, troubleshooting a system issue or providing data that supports strategic decisions, I genuinely enjoy helping others. I’m also very fortunate to work with a fantastic team – that makes all the difference.

What do you love about SHSU? 

SHSU is a place where people care about students, each other and making a difference. I love the strong sense of community and the shared commitment to excellence and service. It’s inspiring to be part of a university that values tradition while embracing innovation, and I’m proud to contribute to its continued growth and success.

Comments supporting her nomination include: 

"The breadth of Jamilyn's expertise and applicable skills across the campus information interfaces and systems is remarkable. She has repeatedly been able to swiftly master new systems and protocols to maintain the vital infrastructure for academic affairs, successful recruitment, retention and reward processes for our talented SHSU faculty." 

"Jamilyn is extremely knowledgeable of an area that is increasingly complex and nearly always changing. She is also forward-thinking, demonstrates outstanding initiative and consistently makes herself available to answer faculty and staff questions."  

Tamara Draper 

How would you describe your own job?

I am the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps the department running smoothly. I am the go-to person for students, staff and other departments when they need answers, guidance, or just a friendly face. I help shape how we do things by assisting with policies and making sure we’re all on the same page. My calendar skills? Legendary. From meetings to events, I keep schedules in check. I wrangle data, create reports and take stellar meeting notes so nothing slips through the cracks. I craft, proof and share documents that actually make sense (and look good, too). I keep us stocked with supplies, handle purchases with my trusty P-Card, and keep an eagle eye on our spending. Basically, if it needs to get done, I’m on it—often with Dr. Pepper in hand and a smile on my face.

What do you love about your job?

I love this job because I thrive on being the department’s problem-solver, organizer and go-to person for making things happen. Every day brings a mix of challenges, people, and projects—so you’re never bored, and you get to be the glue that keeps everything running smoothly.

What do you love about SHSU?

What I appreciate most about SHSU is its strong sense of community. As an alum, it’s especially meaningful to give back to a place that has played such a significant role in my own life. SHSU is a community where people can feel valued, supported by one another, making it not only a great place to work but also a place to grow and thrive.

Comments supporting her nomination include:

"Tamara is truly the heart and soul of the Sociology Department at SHSU. Her warmth, competence and tireless dedication have made her an indispensable member of our academic community. She doesn't just keep our department running, she makes it thrive. She embodies the excellence this award was designed to honor." 

"She willingly takes on task requests from faculty and committees; she is student-centered and aims to build comradery among faculty and students. She does this all with a contagious attitude of joy." 

Tingting Yao 

How would you describe your own job? 

My job is to rehearse with all instrumental students. I coach them, perform with them, prepare them for performances, degree recitals and competitions. I also collaborate with my wonderful colleagues and guest artists for concerts. 

What do you love about your job? 

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